What is considered the optimum length for a short story in England?

Answer 1

The classic definition of a short story is "a story meant to be read in one sitting." A hundred years ago this could be anything from eight to twenty pages. Today people want their gratification in much less time, they see snippets of t.v. in about ten minute intervals between commercials and hear songs that are 3-4 minutes in length. A person today isn't willing to sit down for an hour and read a twenty-page short story. So the definition is evolving. I'd say that today it is 5-10 pages. That's a lot to get into a very short space.